Spray device



May 15, 1956 F. c. ORR 2,745,699

SPRAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FINGAL C. ORR

i -em M ATTORNEYS May 15, 1956 Filed Aug. 11, 1952 F. C. ORR

SPRAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

0 i 56 I9 i :I flzo 72 C/l: 25 41 3o 27 INVENTOR FINGAL C. ORR

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SPRAY DEVICE Fingal C. Orr, Glendale, Calif.

Application August 11, 1952, Serial No. 303,716

1 Claim. (Cl. 29970) This invention has to do with devices for distributing fluid, particularly liquids, and has, as its principal object, the provision of a device capable of creating a multiplicity of spray jets or streams about complete circular paths and in a multiplicity of planes.

For instance, in the art of cleaning tanks whose interiors are accessible only through a relatively small filling opening, it is impossible to so manipulate a conventional spray device or nozzle inside the tank as to be sure of efiectively spraying the cleaning liquid on all wall surfaces of the tank. However, with my improved sprinkler device it is possible eflectively and automatically to cause all the wall surfaces inside the tank to be sprayed.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the ensuing description wherein, for purposes of making my invention understood by those skilled in the art, I shall describe a specific embodiment thereof, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, I show at 5 an X-shaped center member having a depending central neck 7 interiorly threaded to receive the exteriorly threaded upper end of a tube 8 which is rotatably journaled in a nipple 10. The nipple has a portion of hexagonal cross section to receive a wrench or suitable applying-and-removing tool. The threaded lower end of the nipple is secured to a supply pipe 17 by a threaded sleeve 18, the pipe 17 being of larger internal diameter than the nipple so as to receive the larger diameter lower end portion 8a of the tube 8. The end portion 8a has tool-receiving openings 8b. From the foregoing it will be observed that the member 5 may rotate with respect to the nipple by virtue of the tube 8 being rotatably mounted, while the tube passes fluid under pressure to the spray heads or nozzles to be hereinafter described.

Member 5 has a vertical bore 19 and a transverse bore 20, the latter bore rotatably receiving a tube 22 which, midway between its ends, has radial perforations 23 to receive liquid from the supply pipe 17 through bore 19.

On one of the outer ends of the tube 22 l threadedly mount a spray head assembly 24. This includes an L- shaped spray head or fitting 25 having a relatively large diameter inlet bore 26 and a relatively reduced diameter outlet bore 27 in the enlarged outer end of which is threadedly mounted a tubular nozzle 30. An actuating member 32 is pivotally mounted on the fitting at 33 to swing in a plane normal to the plane of rotation of the fitting.

The actuating member 32 is formed at one end to provide a spoon-like deflector 35 which extends generally angularly across the axis of the nozzle in a direction such that liquid issuing from the nozzle impinges thereupon and tends to deflect the actuating member to :pivot on its own axis and also to cause pivotal action of the head 25 about its axis of rotation. The actuating member is biased toward a post 36 by a coil spring 38 connected at one end to the pivot pin 39 upon which the actuating member is carried. The other end of the spring is anchored within the aforementioned post 36. Between the end portion 35 of the actuating member and the point of pivotal mounting, the actuating member carries a vane 41 which passes through the stream of liquid issuing from nozzle 30 when the actuating member pivots in the direction of arrow 42 (Fig. l) and serves to carry the actuating member to a point where the part 35 is well to one side of the liquid stream. At its opposite end :the actuating member is formed with a bulbous .end portion 44which serves as a counterbalance.

With the construction just described, when liquid is flowing through the device the stream of liquid issuing from nozzle 30 causes the actuating member 24 to pivot, moving the end portion 35 out of the path of the stream of liquid, the vane 41 serving to continue the movement of the member until it assumes the position such that the vane 41 and end portion 35 are to one side of the liquid stream. Springs 38 serve to return the actuating member to its original or normal position. Thus the actuating member is alternately reciprocated pivotally and each time that the stream of liquid impinges upon the end portion 35 of the actuating member slight rotative movement is imparted to the fitting 25 due to the angular relation of the end portion 35 with respect to the axis of nozzle 30. In consequence, the fitting 25 and tube 22 are intermittently rotated.

At the end of tube 22 opposite the end carrying fitting 25 I show another fitting 25' which is generally similar to the fitting 25 and carries a similar nozzle 30'. It is not necessary that fitting 25 also be fitted with an actuating member and the opening or bore 51 therethrough is shown plugged by pin 52.

The member 5 is also provided with a bore 55 in the outer threaded portion of which I mount a tube 56 which carries a hollow fitting 58 forming part of a sprinkler head assembly 59. The latter is fitted with a nozzle 60, the fitting being formed in such a manner that the axis of the nozzle 69 is inclined upwardly relative to the axis of the tube 56. Pivotally mounted on the fitting 58 is an actuating member 62 which is generally similar to the actuating member 32 previously described. This is biased by springs 63 against a post 64 and carries a spoon-like deflector 66 and a vane 67 and has an enlarged or weighted end 69. Opposite the fitting 58 I mount a counterweight 71 on a rod 72 which threads into the fitting 5.

When liquid under pressure is flowing through the device the action of it through the spray head assembly at the end of tube 56 is, in principle, the same as that of the spray head assembly 24 at the end of tube 22. In consequence the entire assembly carried on tube 8 is caused to rotate intermittently about the axis of the tube.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that as fluid under pressure is supplied through pipe 17, the fluid fiows through the device to the nozzles of the spray heads and that the entire spray head assembly rotates about a vertical axis due to the previously described operation of the spray head assembly 59 and that at the same time the nozzle or spray head assemblies at the end of tube 22 rotate intermittently about a horizontal axis the direction of which is constantly changing. Thus fluid will be sprayed against or impinge upon the entire wall surface of a tank or other enclosure in which the device is placed and operated.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the folposed to discharge liquid radially of its axis of rotation, 21 deflector vane pivotally mounted for limited movement on said first nozzle having a vane section disposed normally in the path of liquid issuing from said nozzle at an angle such that the reaction force generated by liquid striking said vane section tends to rotate said nozzle about its axis, a spring urging said vane to said normal position, a second nozzle mounted on said member disposed to discharge liquid generally radially of the axis of rotation of said member, a deflector vane pivotally mounted for limited movement on said second nozzle having a vane section disposed normally in the path of liquid issuing from said second nozzle at an angle such axis of rotation of said member, said nozzle being disthat the reaction force generated by liquid striking said vane section tends to rotate said nozzle and said member about the axis of rotation of said member, and a spring urging said last-mentioned vane to said normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,325 Fellows Feb. 19, 1895 1,180,170 Marsh Apr. 18, 1916 1,232,208 Buckner July 3, 1917 1,390,069 Vaudreuil Sept. 6, 1921 1,730,623 Orr Oct. 8, 1929 1,884,041 Marley Oct. 25, 1932 1,997,901 Englehart Apr. 16, 1935 2,030,194 Bell Feb. 11, 1936 2,074,052 George Mar. 16, 1937 2,214,990 Buckner Sept. 17, 1940 2,380,101 Englehart July 10, 1945 2,586,517 Coles Feb. 19, 1952 2,606,789 Royer Aug. 12, 1952 

